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Percent of body fat (PBF), fat mass (FM) and fat free mass (FFM) are useful indicators for the assessment of body composition. The present study was conducted among 1351 children (boys: 660; girls: 691) aged 5-12 years residing in West Bengal, Eastern-India. The children were selected using a stratified random sampling method. Anthropometric measurements of height, weight, triceps skinfold (TSF) and sub-scapular skinfold (SSF) were recorded using standard procedures. The PBF, PBF-for-age z-score (PBFZ) and body mass index (BMI) were subsequently calculated. Body composition was assessed using FM, FFM, fat mass index (FMI) and fat free mass index (FFMI). Age-specific mean values of FM ranged from 2.12-4.00 kg (boys) and 2.16-4.40 kg (girls). Age-specific mean values of FFM ranged from 14.45-23.93 kg (boys) and 14.01-23.03 kg (girls). Sex-specific mean differences between sexes were statistically significant in weight, height, TSF, SSF, PBF, PBFAZ, FM, FFM, FMI and FFMI (p0.05). These results are important for future investigations in clinical and epidemiological settings so as to accurately identify the risk of lower or higher adiposity and body composition using PBF, FM and FFM.

Upper arm anthropometry has a potential role to provide useful estimations of body composition and nutritional status. Aims of the present cross-sectional study were to assess body composition and nutritional status of rural school-going children using upper arm anthropometric measures such as upper arm muscle area-by-height (UAMAH) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) for-height. The present cross-sectional study was conducted among 1281 children of West Bengal, India (boys 619, girls 662) aged 5-12 years and selected using a stratified random sampling method. Anthropometric measurements of height, weight, MUAC and triceps skinfold (TSF) were recorded. Body composition and nutritional status were assessed using upper arm muscle area (UMA), upper arm fat area (UFA), UAMAH and MUAC-forheight. Age-sex-specific overall adiposity in TSF, UFA, arm fat index and upper-arm fat area estimates were higher among girls than boys (p0.05). Upper arm anthropometric measures, UAMAH and MUAC-for-height are useful for assessment of body composition and nutritional status among children.

The ridge patterns on the palms, fingers, toes, and soles stay constant and are distinct to each individual. Dermatoglyphics is the study of these ridges, which has many applications in medical science, biological anthropology, genetics, pharmaceuticals, dentistry, evolution, genetics and forensic science. Historically, the study of dermatoglyphics began in the 1600s, with Cummins and Midlo coining the name 'Dermatoglyphics'. These patterns are crucial in the identification of numerous disorders, both genetically and clinically. Thus, the widespread use of dermatoglyphics have shown to be a unique and important instrument for dental research, personal identification, paternity issues, demographic studies, population variations and the detection of numerous ailments and genetic diseases. The purpose of the present paper is to better understand the history of dermatoglyphics and its applications in anthropological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High rate of maternal mortality in developing and less developed countries is a serious public health concern which is still prevalent although several initiatives have been taken by elite public health organizations worldwide. The present review deals with the current situation of maternal mortality worldwide and associated health risk indicators/factors contributing to the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]